Battery type lighter

ABSTRACT

A thin battery powered lighter, which has superior portability and usable as an advertising medium, is provided. The lighter includes a thin flat case ( 2 ); a sheet type battery ( 3 ) provided within the case ( 2 ); a heating element ( 4 ) connected to the battery ( 3 ); and a power switch ( 5 ) for establishing an electrical connection between the battery ( 3 ) and the heating element ( 4 ). The case ( 2 ) includes a slide member ( 6 ) for opening and closing an ignition window ( 21 ), which is provided at a position that the heating element faces ( 4 ), and an operating button ( 51 ) for operating the power switch ( 5 ). When the ignition window ( 21 ) is closed by the slide member ( 6 ), a portion of the slide member is interposed between contact points of the switch, precluding an operation of the operating button ( 51 ). The electrical connection is enabled by operating the operating button ( 51 ) in a state in which the ignition window ( 21 ) is open.

This is a national stage application of PCT/JP/2003/011963 filed Sep.18, 2003.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a battery powered lighter that houses abattery therein that electrifies a resistance wire to generate heat,employed for lighting cigarettes and the like.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventional battery powered lighters mainly utilize double A or tripleA batteries. Two of these batteries are housed, connected in series, toelectrify a resistance wire heating element such as a nichrome wire witha voltage of 3V. The lighters are utilized by placing the heatingelement, which serves as an ignition source, in contact with cigarettesand the like.

There have also been proposed card type battery powered lighters inJapanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication Nos. 63 (1988)-142571 and3 (1991)-128251. The card type battery powered lighters employ thin flatbatteries or button type batteries, and have Ignition windows which areopenable and closable.

Battery powered lighters are not in widespread use. This is because incomparison with gas lighters, in which fuel gas is ignited to generate ahigh temperature flame, the amount of energy at the resistance wireheating element is low, resulting in difficult ignition.

Battery powered lighters which utilize the double A or triple Abatteries as described above enable easy battery replacement. However,the thickness of the lighter main body becomes 15 mm or greater, tohouse the batteries therein. Accordingly, there is a drawback inportability, as they become difficult to carry in a breast pocket, forexample. In addition, if the voltage is as low as 3V, the amount ofgenerated heat is small, resulting in a drawback that sufficientigniting function is difficult to obtain.

If a large flat surface is formed on the lighter main body, the entiretyof the lighter becomes large. On the other hand, if the lighter isminiaturized, a flat surface thereof becomes small, thereby decreasingthe area of a display portion for printing a name, or placing anadvertisement. Therefore, miniaturization of the lighter renders thelighter unsuitable as an advertising medium.

Rechargeable batteries such as nickel hydride batteries and lithium ionbatteries may be utilized. However, these batteries are expensive, so itwould be difficult to apply them to a disposable advertising medium.

On the other hand, the lighters disclosed in the aforementioned UtilityModel Publications comprise a slide switch for opening and closing theignition window, which also serves as a power switch. Thereby, anelectrical connection is established in a linked operation with theopening of the ignition window. This structure may lead to inadvertentswitching during carriage of the lighter, which exhausts the battery andreduces the number of times that the lighter can be utilized.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been developed in view of the points describedabove. It is the object of the present invention to provide a batterypowered lighter that ensures sufficient ignition properties and numberof times that the lighter can be utilized, which is thin and superior inportability, and which is employable as an advertising medium.

The battery powered lighter of the present invention comprises:

a thin flat case;

a sheet type battery provided within the flat case;

a resistance wire heating element connected to the sheet type battery;and

a power switch for opening and closing the connection between the sheettype battery and the resistance wire heating element; wherein

the flat case comprises: an ignition window, open at a position wherethe heating element faces; a slide member for opening and closing theignition window; and an operating button for operating the power switch;

an operation of the operating button is precluded in the state that theignition window is closed by the slide member, by a portion of the slidemember being interposed between contacts of the power switch; and

the power switch is capable of being closed and activated by anoperation of the operating button, in the state that the ignition windowis open.

It is preferable that a display portion for an advertisement and thelike is provided on a flat surface of the flat case. It is alsopreferable that an operating portion of the slide member and theoperating button are positioned adjacent to each other on the flat case.The planar shape of the flat case is capable of being formed to be ofthe same size as that of a package of cigarettes.

According to the battery powered lighter of the present invention,safety is ensured, due to the configuration wherein the operation buttonmust be manipulated to establish the electrical connection with theheating element, in addition to the operation of the slide member. Inaddition, inadvertent establishment of the electrical connection duringcarriage is prevented. Therefore, wasteful consumption of the battery iseliminated, thereby ensuring a sufficient number of times that thelighter can be utilized. Further, by utilizing the sheet type battery,the thickness of the case can be made as thin as 5 mm. Therefore,commercialization of the thin battery powered lighter becomes possible,which can be placed unobtrusively in a breast pocket or a bag, that is,which is superior in portability.

Note that by utilizing the sheet type battery, the voltage rating isincreased to 6V˜6.3V, compared to conventional battery powered lighters,which had employed 3V batteries. Therefore, the ignition properties aremarkedly improved.

In addition, it is possible to form a display portion having a largearea. Therefore, the area in which a name is printed, or anadvertisement is placed, is increased, rendering the lighter of thepresent invention as a suitable low cost advertising medium.

By providing the operating portion of the slide member and the operatingbutton adjacent to each other on the flat case, the series of operationsrequired for ignition can be performed favorably.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a plan view of a battery powered lighter according to a firstembodiment of the present invention, in a state of non-use.

FIG. 1B is a side view of the battery powered lighter of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the internal structure of the batterypowered lighter of FIG. 1A, with a case partially removed.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the battery powered lighter of FIG. 1A in astate of use.

FIG. 4 is a schematic circuit diagram of the battery powered lighter ofFIG. 1A.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a battery powered lighter according to asecond embodiment of the present invention, during battery replacement.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the embodiments of the present invention will be describedwith reference to the attached drawings. FIG. 1A is a plan view of abattery powered lighter 1 according to a first embodiment of the presentinvention, in a state of non-use. FIG. 1B is a side view of the batterypowered lighter 1. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the internal structureof the battery powered lighter 1, with a case 2 partially removed. FIG.3 is a plan view of the battery powered lighter 1 in a state of use.FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a circuit structure of the batterypowered lighter 1.

The battery powered lighter 1 comprises a thin flat case 2; a sheet typebattery 3 provided within the flat case 2; a resistance wire heatingelement 4 connected to the sheet type battery 3; a power switch 5 forestablishing an electrical connection between the sheet type battery 3and the heating element 4; and a slide member 6.

The flat case 2 comprises a front surface 2 a, a back surface 2 b, andlateral surfaces 2 c. An oval ignition window 21 is provided at theupper central portion of the front surface 2 a. A vertically extendingslide opening 22 is provided at a central portion of the front surface 2a beneath the ignition window 21. A circular operation button 51displaceable by pressure is provided adjacent to the slide opening 22. Adisplay portion 23 for printing a name, an advertisement, or the like isprovided at the flat surface in the lower half of the front surface 2 a.The planar shape of the flat case 2 may be formed to be the same size asthat of a package of cigarettes.

Note that the operating button 51 may be formed integrally with thefront surface 2 a of the flat case 2, to have elasticity by being formedthin. Alternatively, the operating button 51 may be formed as a separatemember, and mounted on the flat case 2 to be displaceable in thedirection that pressure is applied.

The heating element 4 is provided in the upper portion of the flat case2. The thickness of the lower portion of the flat case 2 is reduced,opposed to the thickness of the upper portion thereof. The shape of thelateral walls 2 c is that of a taper of which the height progressivelydecreases toward the lower portion.

The sheet type battery 3 is flat and rectangular. The sheet type battery3 comprises a battery main body as a central layer; metal plates in theform of film, which serve as electrodes, provided on both sides of thebattery main body; and insulative sheets provided as the outermost layeron both sides. The insulative sheet on the side of the front surface 2 ais provided with an electrode opening. The portion of the metal filmexposed by the electrode opening serves as a first electrode 31 of thesheet type battery. The metal film toward on the side of the backsurface 2 b is bent to overlap the insulative sheet on the side of thefront surface 2 a, to serve as a second electrode 32 of the sheet typebattery 3. The voltage rating of the sheet type battery 3 is 6V˜6.3V,for example.

The sheet type battery 3 described above is mounted and contained in abattery housing portion within the flat case 2. The battery housingportion excludes the upper portion of the flat case 2 at which theheating element 4 is provided. The first electrode 31 is at a positioncorresponding to the operating button 51 on the front surface 2 a. Thesecond electrode 32 is positioned at the upper right corner of the flatcase 2.

The heating element 4 is constructed by nichrome wire or the like. Theheating element 4 is attached to a fixing portion 24, which is providedat the central upper portion of the flat case 2, at a position thatfaces the ignition window 21. The fixing portion 24 is constructed by aheat cured resin, and has heat resistant properties. A first terminal 4a of the heating element 4 is connected to the second electrode 32 ofthe sheet type battery 3. A second terminal 4 b of the heating elementis connected to a terminal plate 52 of the power switch 5.

The terminal plate 52 is fixed to the back surface of the power switch5, to face the first electrode 31. When the operating button 51 isdepressed, the terminal plate 52 contacts the first electrode 31, toestablish an electrical connection between the sheet type battery 3 andthe heating element 4. The heating element 4 generates heat and acigarette or the like is placed in contact therewith to performignition. When the operating button 51 is released, the terminal plate52 is separated from the first electrode 31 due to the elasticity of theoperating button 51 in the direction toward which it protrudes. Theelectrical connection is broken at the power switch 5, and the supply ofelectricity to the heating element 4 is ceased.

In addition, a lock portion 62, which is integral with the slide member6, is interposed between the terminal plate 52 and the first electrode31 when the slide member 6 is in the position at which it closes theignition window 21. Therefore, an electrical connection is notestablished by the power switch 5 even if the operating button isdepressed, when the ignition window 21 is closed.

That is, the slide member 6 is provided to be slidable in the verticaldirection along the interior surface of the front surface 2 a of theflat case 2. The slide member 6 is formed to be long in the verticaldirection. A slide operating portion 61 is protrusively provided at theapproximate center of the slide member 6. The operating portion 61 isinserted into the slide opening 22 of the front surface 2 a, to enablethe slide member 6 to be manipulated to move in the vertical direction.In the state shown in FIG. 1, wherein the operating portion 61 is movedin the upward direction, the upper end of the slide member 6 closes theignition window 21. In the state shown in FIG. 3, wherein the operatingportion 61 is moved in the downward direction, the upper end of theslide member 6 is positioned below the ignition window 21, therebyopening the ignition window 21 to expose the interior heating element 4.

The slide member 6 also comprises the lock portion 62, which extendstoward the operating button 51 of the power switch 5, from the side ofthe slide member 6. As shown in FIG. 4, the lock portion 62 isinsertable between the terminal plate 52 and the first electrode 31. Inthe state shown in FIG. 1, wherein the slide member 6 is in its upperposition, the lock portion is interposed between the contact points ofthe power switch 5. Therefore, the electrical connection between thesheet type battery 3 and the heating element 4 to be established by thepower switch 5 is blocked. On the other hand, in the state shown in FIG.3, wherein the slide member 6 is in its lower position, the lock portionseparates from the terminal plate 52 of the power switch 5. In thisstate, the electrical connection between the sheet type battery 3 andthe heating element 4 is capable of being established.

As described above, in the state that the ignition window 21 is closedby the slide member 6, the lock portion 62 is interposed between thecontact points of the power switch, thereby precluding manipulation ofthe operating button 51. On the other hand, in the state that theignition window 2 is opened by the slide member 6, ignition is enabledby depressing the operating button 51 to establish the electricalconnection at the power switch 5. This structure prevents batteryconsumption by inadvertent establishment of the electrical connection atthe power switch 5.

The operating portion 61 of the slide member 6 and the operating button51 are positioned adjacent to each other on the flat case 2. The slidingoperation of the slide operating portion 61 to open the ignition window21 and the depressing operation of the operating button 51 are easilyperformed as a continuous operation. Thereby, the ignition operation isfacilitated.

The battery powered lighter 1 described above is disposed without thebattery being recharged or replaced, when the sheet type battery 3 runsout and ignition is no longer possible.

A name or an advertisement can be placed in the display portion 23 ofthe battery powered lighter 1 of the first embodiment. Therefore, inaddition to employing an ignition function for lighting cigarettes andthe like, the battery powered lighter 1 may be employed as anadvertising medium, thereby increasing its utility.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a battery powered lighter 10 accordingto a second embodiment of the present invention. The battery poweredlighter 10 of the second embodiment replaceably houses a sheet typebattery 3, and FIG. 5 shows a state of battery replacement. Structuralcomponents which are the same as those of the first embodiment aredenoted with the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof willbe omitted insofar as they are not necessary.

The battery powered lighter 10 of the second embodiment is equipped witha flat case 12 for replaceably housing the sheet type battery 3. Theflat case 12 comprises: a case main body 12A formed of a rectangularfront surface and lateral surfaces around the periphery thereof; and anopenable and closable lid 12B as a back surface of the flat case 12.

The lid 12B is rotatably mounted to the case main body 12A by a shaft13. Undercuts 12 d are formed in the interior surfaces of the lateralsurfaces of the case main body 12A. When the lid 12B is closed, itengages with the undercuts 12 d, to prevent opening of the lid 12B.

Note that although not shown in the figure, an ignition window 21, aslide opening 22, an operating button 51, a display portion 23 and aslide member 6 are provided on the front surface of the case main body12A, as in the first embodiment.

A heating element 4 (not shown) is fixed to a fixing portion 24 providedat the central upper portion of the case main body 12A, in the samemanner as in the first embodiment. A first terminal 4 a of the heatingelement 4 is connected to a terminal plate 7. The terminal plate 7 isprovided in the case main body 12A at a position corresponding to asecond electrode 32 of the sheet type battery 3 housed within the casemain body 12A. A second terminal 4 b is connected to a terminal plate 52of a power switch, constructed in the same manner as in the firstembodiment.

FIG. 5 shows the battery powered lighter 10 in a state in which the lid12B is open. The sheet type battery 3 is mounted in the case main body12A so that the first electrode 31 and the second electrode 32 face thefront surface side, and the lid 12B is closed. At this time, the firstelectrode 31 faces the terminal plate 52 on the back surface of theoperating button 51 with a lock portion 62 of the slide memberinterposed therebetween. The second electrode 32 contacts the terminalplate 7 and is electrically connected thereto.

Ignition is performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment, byoperating the slide member 6 and depressing the operating button 51. Inthe state that ignition window 21 is closed by the slide member 6, thelock portion 62 is interposed between the contact points of the powerswitch 5, precluding depression of the operating button 51. On the otherhand, in the state that the ignition window 21 is opened by the slidemember 6, depression of the operating button 51 establishes anelectrical connection between the sheet type battery 3 and the heatingelement 4, enabling ignition. Long term use of the battery poweredlighter of the second embodiment is possible, due to the replaceabilityof the sheet type battery 3.

1. A battery powered lighter comprising: a thin flat case; a sheet typebattery provided within the flat case; a resistance wire heating elementconnected to the sheet type battery; and a power switch for opening andclosing the connection between the sheet type battery and the resistancewire heating element; wherein the flat case comprises: an ignitionwindow, open at a position where the heating element faces; a slidemember having a first position and a second position; and an operatingbutton for operation of the power switch; whereas the operating buttonis depressed, a terminal plate contacts an electrode, to establish anelectrical connection between the sheet type battery and the heatingelement, and as the operating button is released, the terminal plate isseparated from the electrode due to the elasticity of the operatingbutton in the direction toward which it protrudes, a lock portionintegral with the slide member interposed between the terminal plate andthe electrode when the slide member is in the position at which itcloses the ignition window; a first portion of the slide member coversthe ignition window when the slide member is in the first position; anda second portion of the slide member slides between the terminal plateand the electrode, thereby preventing the operation of the power switchwhen the slide member is in the first position.
 2. A battery poweredlighter as defined in claim 1, further comprising: a display portionprovided on a flat surface of the flat case.
 3. A battery poweredlighter as defined in claim 1, wherein: an operating portion of theslide member and the operating button are positioned adjacent to eachother on the flat case.
 4. A battery powered lighter as defined in claim1, wherein: a fixing portion of the resistance wire heating element isstructured of heat cured resin.
 5. A battery powered lighter as definedin claim 1, wherein: the sheet type battery is irreplaceably housedwithin the flat case.
 6. A battery powered lighter as defined in claim1, wherein: a portion of the flat case is openable and closable; and thesheet type battery is replaceably housed therein.